“I haven’t felt great all year,” James said. “I’ve had spurts where one or two games I felt good and after that I was just pushing through it. I feel better right now than I’ve felt for the majority of the season.

“I finally just listened to my body ultimately. Once I started seeing my game being affected by my stubbornness, then I looked myself in the mirror and understood I have to do what’s best for me. It was one of the hardest but smartest decisions I’ve made.”

“Until we get healthy, we won’t know what we’re capable of doing,” James said. “I don’t think we’ll ever be fully healthy as far as everyone being 100 percent, that’s impossible. I can never get my motor back to 100, but as close to 100 as possible for all of us. Once we see our pieces on the floor, Coach Blatt and the coaching staff do a great job of putting the guys together and seeing what lineups, what pieces work together well, then we can see what we’re capable of doing.”